Easy-chair for invalids



3 SheetsSheet 1.

P. ONEIL. ADJUSTABLE COMBINATION CHAIR.

No. 8,377. Patented Sept. 23,.1851.

3 SheetsSh eet 2.

A P. ONBIL. ADJUSTABLE COMBINATION CHAIR.

No.8;377. Patented Sept. 23, 1851..

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. ONEIL. ADJUSTABLE COMBINATION CHAIR.

No. 8,377. Patented. Sept. 23, 1851.

THE Noam PETERS c0, PNO'O-LITHQ, WASNFNGYON. n c.

PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK ONEIL, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK. I

EASY-CHAIR FOR INVALIDS, 85o.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,377, dated September 23, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK ONEIL, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement, being a parlorchair composed of sections and capable of being adapted to the purposes of sofa, lounge, bed, writing-desk, &-c., which I denominate The Adjustable Combination- Chair, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and clear description of the construction thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The distinguishing feature of my invention consists in constructing the chair in three separate sect-ions or part sthe central section or part being the princ1pal,-and the two other sections or parts forming the arms, and being subordinary to the central section, and are of such a construction as to render the central section or chair susceptible of being converted into a lounge, sofa, ordinary parlor chair with its arms detached and forming Ottomans, or tables,or an invalids recline or bed with the subordinary sections attached and capable of being adjusted to any desired angle of inclination to suit all stages of spinal disease, or ruptures of any description which require to be guarded against ill positions ;and also adjusted to accommodate any position of a fractured leg while the other remains in a pendant position.

It will thus readily be seen that the universal adaptation of this chair is a useful and important desideratum for omestic purposes.

My improvement also consists in constructing the back of the chair with an intermediate joint, and in connection therewith,the employment of a central jointed arm projecting from the frame vof the chair,and rack bar, for the purpose of imparting to the intermediate section of the back of the chair any desired angle of inclination, in connection with that of the bolster or pillow and rear portion of the back for adapting the same to the character of the occupants complaint or desire, with the nicest accuracy,and also for imparting to the cushion when adapted as an arm chair, an easy and comfortable curve, near the connection of the spine with the lower extremity of the occupant.

My improvement also relates to the manner of attaching the bolster or pillow to the upper side of the rear portion of the back of the chair, by means of triple jointed hinges so as to permit it to ride or expand by the action of spiral springs,and prevent any lateral movement of the bolster or pillow, while extended or contracted. And my improvement further consists in constructing the subordinate sections or parts which form the arms to the chair, with double ointed frames, cushioned in the manner of an ordinary parlor chair, and provided with hinged feet by which they are elevated at any desired angle, and sustained in the required position, and also made to serve the purpose of arms to the chair; as well as a continuation of the seat of the chair, when it is formed into a lounge, sofa, or invalids bed, by placing the subordinary sections in front of the central section and parallel to each other so as to receive the cushion,- and are used in connection with the chair as a writing desk, and table on either side of the chair. And my improvement also relates to the employment of two horizontal sliding rest boards secured to the frame beneath the bottom of the chair, for the purpose of forming a rest or support for the divided portion of the cushion when moved frontward and the chair in position seen in Fig. 1,and for the purpose of supporting the hinged legs of the back of the chair when moved rearward to convert the chair into a lounge, bed or sofa, as may be desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1- represents the position of a parlor arm chair. Fig. 2- represents the chair in the position of an ordinary lounge or sofa,the back of the chair having been elevated to its full height, and the subordinary sections or parts placed in such a manner as to form a continuation of the seat of the chair. Fig. 8 represents the position of the chair as adapted for an invalid with a fractured leg,.the back of the chair being elevated and the double jointed hinged frame of one of the subordinary sections elevated with a section of the cushion, and the other subordi' nary section placed adjacent to the side of the chair to form a writing desk, and one of the horizontal rest boards moved frontward to receive a portion of the cushion to support one of the legs of the occupant in a bent position. Fig. etrepresents the position of the chair as a recline or bed-the horizontal rest boards having been moved nary sections or parts which form arms ofv the chair in Fig. 1 having been advanced frontward and adjusted in such a manner as to serve the purpose of a writing desk and table. Fig. 6- represents the position of an ordinary chairthe subordinary sections or parts being detached therefrom,- and made to serve the purpose of Ottomans. Fig. 7- is a vertical section through the central or principal section of the chair,- showing the back thereof elevated. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through one'of the subordinate sections which form the arms of the chair,the double jointed frame be ing elevated. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the chair. Fig. 10 is an end view of the back of the chair,showing the spring bolster or pillow. Fig. 11- is a vertical transverse section through one of the subordinary sections or arms of the chair.

Where the same letters of reference occur on the several figures of the drawings, they indicate the same parts.

Description.The central or principal section of the chair consists of a frame A, made of any desired form and size, to the upper front portion of which is secured the seat B, cushioned in the usual manner, and provided with a box C, within which are confined the spiral springs D, which give elasticity to the seat, of the chair. To the seat is attached by means of hinges E, the back of the chair, which is composed of two sections F, Gconnected near the seat by hinges E so as to form an intermediate joint F by which the back of the chair is susceptible of anydesired bend or curve to suit the condition of the spine of the occupant. This is effected by means of a jointed arm H attached to the frame A, in such a manner as to fit into the teeth of a rack bar I, secured to the center of the mid dle section F, on the underside thereof.

To the upperside of the rear end of the section G is attached a. bolster or pillow I, by means of hinges K, having three joints and connected to the section G, and underside of the bolster or pillow I, and projecting toward each other in such a manner as to open and close with the contraction and expansion of the bolster. Between the ends of the bolster I, and section G, are confined the spiral springs L L for expanding the bolster and retaining it in' that position with a sufiicient degree of elasticity.

From the center of the bolster I, projects through an opening or tube M. a splndle N,

Fig. 5- represents the 150-" which in connection with the hinges K, guide and steady the bolster while being expanded, and also prevents any lateral movement thereto. The spring bolster J, is secured when contracted by means of two cords 0, 0, attached near the ends of the bolster .J, and confined to pins a a on the underside of the back of the chair or passed over the back and attached to pins 6 b 011 the bolster. Near the rear end of the section G, is attached by means of hinges, c c a pair of legs P, having their lower ends shod with plates which fit into the teeth of rack bars Q, secured to the frame of the chair and parallel to its sides for the purpose of regulating the angle of the back of the chair to any desired degree of inclinations as desired by the occupant.

l/Vhen it is desired to convert the chair into a bed, lounge, or invalids recline, the hinged legs P, are lifted from the rack bars Q and the back of the chair lowered until they rest upon the horizontal sliding rest boards which are moved rearward for that purpose.

The frames R, R, which compose the subordinate sections or parts of the chair, are made. somewhat after the form of an ottoman, of an height eoual to the seat of the chair, so as to form whenplaced on either side of the chair the arms thereof. These subordinate sections or parts are provided with double jointeo frames S, S, cushioned in the manner of the seat B, and constitute I when elevated as seen in Fig. 8, the arms of the chair. These double jointed frames are attached by means of hinges to the frames R, R, and also hingednear their middle as seen at T Fig. 8and each sect-ion provided of a writing desk and table, loy simply changing the position of the arms of the chair, in moving them front-ward adjacent to the sides of the chair in order to bring the inclined or horizontal portion of the double jointed frame S in the proper posi-' tion for the arm of the occupant; or the position of a double inclined plane may be given to the jointed frames over which the fractured leg may rest in an easy position. These double jointed hinged frames S, are lowered to a horizontal position and placed in front of the seat of the chair and parallel to each other, when it is desired to convert the chair into a sofa, lounge, bed, or invalids recline.

The principal and subordinate sections are provided with hooks and eyes in suitable places by which they are connected together when changed to the several positions described above and shown in the drawings.

The main cushion X, of the chair resembles in form, a bed, and is divided at its lower end into two equal parts which extend mid-way its length for the purpose of allowing one of its parts to be elevated, and the other to remain in a bent position when the occupant has a fractured leg, as seen in Fig. 3, and also to allow it to bend freely when adapted to the parlor arm chair.

Near the bottom ofthe legs of the chair frame, are placed two horizontal sliding rest boards Y Y provided with tongues (Z cl on their edges which fit into grooves and by which they are confined. These horizontal rest boards Y, are for the purpose of forming rests or supports for the divided portions of the cushion X, when in the position of a chair, by moving the same frontward a sufficient distance, for that purposethere being ledges (e e) projecting upward from their front ends to prevent the cushion X from sliding ofli; and also for forming a support for the hinged legs P of the chair back, Gr, when moved rearward, for the purpose of converting the chair into a bed, lounge, or invalids recline in which case the bolster or pillow J is expanded. The hori- Zontal sliding rest boards Y, are provided with check bars 7 f Fig. 7, for governing the movement of the same back and forth.

Having described the construction and uses of my adjustable combination chair, what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The manner of combining the jointed chair, with the jointed Ottomans, whereby the whole is made to subserve the several purposes hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.

2. I also claim furnishing the back of the chair with an additional joint F whereby the back of the chair is rendered susceptible of such adjustment as to form a support to the spine of the occupant of the chair, as described and shown in thedrawings.

3. I likewise claim the employment of the triple jointed hinges K, K, in combination with the spiral springs L, L, for securing the flexible bolster J, by which it is steadied and retained in its proper position when eX- panded or contracted, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK ONEIL. Vitnesses:

WM. P. ELLIOT, A. E. H. JOHNSON. 

